May 2025 Kirklees SEND Newsletter

What is your job and which organisation do you work for?

Strategic Lead for Additionally Resourced Provisions, Kirklees Council

What is an Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP)?

An ARP is part of a mainstream school. It caters for children and young people who need specialist support over and above what a mainstream school can normally provide within an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The ARP is an integral part of a school.

ARPs enable pupils with SEND to stay in mainstream education. Thanks to special provision, they can still access parts of the mainstream curriculum and internal and external spaces. Pupils also work in a group that includes others with similar needs.

The EHCP annual review process is used to make sure they are receiving the support that is best for them.

What difference does your work make for children and families?

Extra, high-quality school places, for all ages, mean children can be educated closer to home and receive specialist support in mainstream schools. This helps them in many ways. The work is carried out by a wider team, including schools staff and head teachers.

Young people with SEND deserve the very best support we can provide (as do all our young people) to give them the best start in life; to give them the grounding they need and to fulfil their aspirations. I am a SEND parent myself and feel passionately about giving our young people the very best – they have so much to offer!

You can find out more about ARP's on this page Additionally Resourced Provisions - ARP's

In recent months there have been several changes to processes for Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

You can find out more about EHCP's on this page - What is an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)?

We are fully committed to improving EHCP systems for the benefit of children, young people and families. Many people will be aware there have been delays in processing EHCPs, but we are working hard to address this.

Councils around the country face challenges with their EHCP systems, which is mainly due to a huge rise in demand. However, in Kirklees we are making progress.

• We have changed our ways of working and, as a result, children and young people are receiving help more promptly
• A new IT system is making us more efficient in meeting demand
• We have also increased staff numbers, which is helping us to support nearly 5,000 children and young people who have an EHCP, or who are in the process of receiving one

Please note that our SENDACT team has been renamed and is now the EHCP team. This better reflects the work that they do. The telephone number remains the same (01484 456888), but there is a new email address: EHCP.Team@kirklees.gov.uk

Changes to email contact information:

SENACT@kirklees.gov.uk changed to EHCP.Team@kirklees.gov.uk

SENDACT.Complaints@kirklees.gov.uk changed to EHCP.Resolutions@kirklees.gov.uk

SENDACT.Payments@kirklees.gov.uk changed to EHCP.Finance@kirklees.gov.uk

For the time being, any emails received at the old addresses will be automatically forwarded to the new addresses so there is no disruption in service.

We are ambitious for all children and families to achieve the best possible outcomes. Thank you for your patience during this period of change.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the EHCP team using the following methods:

Email: EHCP.Team@kirklees.gov.uk

Tel 01484 456888

Local parent/carer group PCAN (Parents of Children with Additional Needs) are holding more ‘Cuppa and Chat’ events over the coming weeks – and everyone is welcome.

The events, which are a chance to talk about anything linked to SEND, are taking place at various venues across Kirklees.

PCAN are an independent, parent-led forum who support Kirklees families and work with providers to make sure parents have their say in local services for children and young people with additional needs.

The informal ‘Cuppa and Chat’ sessions are:

• Holmfirth Library, 47 Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth, HD9 3JH (6-8pm) – June 9^th, July 7^th, September 15^th
• The Salvation Army Church & Community Centre, New Hey Road, Lindley, HD3 4BZ (6-8pm) – June 23^rd, July 28^th, August 18^th
• Honley Library, West Avenue, Honley, HD9 6HF (5-7pm) – June 4^th, July 2^nd, August 6^th, September 3^rd
• Thornhill Lees Community Centre, 53 Brewery Lane, Dewsbury, WF12 9DU (9.30am-12.30pm) – June 11^th, July 9^th, September 10^th
• The Zone, St Andrews Road, Huddersfield, HD1 6PT (9.30am-12.30pm) – June 12^th, July 10^th, September 11^th

For more information, please contact info@pcankirklees.org